Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Chapter Two

I find it hard to believe that two years have passed since the lights first flickered to life at BKW. In two short years, we have seen our readership and traffic grow to reach a loyal, worldwide audience.

Since BKW began, the number of cycling Web sites available has grown exponentially and there are countless urls worthy of a bookmark or an RSS feed. Given all the choices, we thank you, our readers, for spending a small part of your day with us, for leaving insightful commentary, and for dedicating space to BKW on your own blogs.

BKW owes a debt of gratitude to all of those who helped us this past season: industry folk, friends, PRO athletes, team management, and to our staff - thank you for your time and generosity. Your contributions have brought BKW to unanticipated levels of success.

I don't remember how I stumbled upon BKW, but I knew immediately that it was levels above everything else I was ready about cycling. The articles & stories are well thought out and well written. I've learned and enjoyed so much. I appreciate you being able to express what I can only feel.

BKW Favorites

Belgium Knee Warmers Defined

For many professional cyclists the Spring campaign is the toughest of the season; it means training from October until March in the worst, character-building weather conditions Europe can dish out. This weather and the suffering that is bicycle racing breed characters known as "hardmen".

Select cyclists tackle these conditions in shorts, long sleeve jerseys or short sleeve jerseys with arm warmers, wind vests, and shoe covers. A true hardman opts to forego the knee or leg warmers and instead chooses an embrocation to cover the knees. The liniment provides warmth for the legs and keeps the blood circulating and muscles supple. Embrocation and the sheen created is affectionately known as "Belgium knee warmers". The hardest of cyclists will sport bare legs in the most ruthless of conditions.

Belgium Knee Warmers are indicitive of the many subtleties that make professional cycling so enthralling.

Dispatches

Profile

I spent 20 years of my life working in the bicycle industry, turning wrenches and selling bikes for some of the industry's best shops. I have extensive experience designing and constructing frames in both steel and titanium and have performed thousands of bike fits. I am passionate about bicycles in all forms. The bicycle provides me with physical and mental health and taps me into a social pipeline that allows me to share my passion with others. I ride as often as possible and love the flow of a hard group ride. Check back for musings about all things road cycling and, especially, the Spring Classics. The devil is in the details and I am an expert in the useless minutia that makes up our discipline.